Abstract
The biosynthesis of 11-tetradecenyl acetate, the major storage precursor of the aldehyde pheromone of Choristoneura fumiferana, the eastern spruce budworm, has been found to be catalyzed by an acetyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acetyltransferase. In vitro, acetyltransferase activity was found almost exclusively in extracts from the pheromone producing gland, and could be demonstrated in vivo by topical application of [ 14C]tetradecanol to the glands. Moreover, the activity was under developmental regulation, being low before and immediately after emergence of the moths from the pupal stage, and rising to a maximum in concert with the increase in glandular pheromone levels. Maximum activity with saturated alcohols was observed for acceptors of 12 to 15 carbons in chain length, with higher activities being found for the cis or trans monounsaturated analogs. The specificity of this enzyme with respect to substrate, morphological location and developmental regulation, indicates that it plays a key role in regulation of pheromone biosynthesis.
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